Poet of lost faith and intimacy: remembering Doreen Micallef

Abstract

Doreen Micallef is distinguished as one of the rare female authors linked to the Moviment Qawmien Letterarju and, more significantly, as a forerunner of feminist ideology in Maltese literature. Most of her poetic works are addressed to God or an abstract male figure, with no direct address to women. The National Book Council has recently paid tribute to Doreen Micallef by naming the National Poetry Contest after her, recognizing one of the most remarkable voices of her era. Rowna Baldacchino examines her poetic style and her impact on Maltese literature.